NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS of GREAT PLAINS PSEUDO SCORPIONS (ARACHNIDA: PSEUDOSCORPIONES) Paul O

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Fall 2012 NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS OF GREAT PLAINS PSEUDO SCORPIONS (ARACHNIDA: PSEUDOSCORPIONES) Paul O. Cooney Redford, MI, [email protected]

James A. Kalisch University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected]

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Cooney, Paul O. and Kalisch, James A., "NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS OF GREAT PLAINS PSEUDO SCORPIONS (ARACHNIDA: PSEUDOSCORPIONES)" (2012). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 1232. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/1232

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Great Plains Research 22 (Fall 2012):195-201 © 2012 Copyright by the Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS OF GREAT PLAINS PSEUDO SCORPIONS (ARACHNIDA: PSEUDOSCORPIONES)

PaulO. Cooney

16351 Glenmore Redford, MI48240 Pa3c456@ao/.com

and

James A. KaUsch

Department ofEntomology 202 Entomology Hall University ofNebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68583-0816 [email protected]

ABSTRACT-Pseudoscorpions are tiny, oval, brown, flattened arachnids that possess large "pinchers" in front of the body for capturing smaller prey. They generally live in forested habitats in soil litter or beneath loose bark. It has been presumed that pseudoscorpions are scarce in the Great Plains, except for along rivers, due to harsh climatic conditions. However, new records of pseudo scorpions from the Great Plains were derived from identification of specimens obtained from university and college collections, and from specimens collected by the first author. Records provided new revelations about distributions of not only the more commonly known pseudoscorpion species but also species previously not believed to be adaptable to grassland habitats. For ex ample, Dactylochelifer silvestris Hoff, a western species, appears to be common throughout the Great Plains, with new state records from Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. In addition, Parachernes nubilis (Hoff) previously was not known from Kansas, Nebraska, or Texas, and Parachernes virginicus Hoff, Apocheiridium stannardi Hoff, Hysterochelifer proprius Hoff, and Chthonius tetrachelatus (Preyssler) are newly recorded for Nebraska. Records of Microbisium parvulum from Rapp (1978) in Nebraska were bolstered by five more in the state.

Key Words: pseudoscorpion, false scorpion, arthropod records, Great Plains, grasslands, ecology, yucca, sagebrush

INTRODUCTION

The Great Plains is a vast grassland region generally Formerly this region consisted of immense expanses lying west of the Missouri River and east of the Rocky of tallgrass, mixed-grass, and shortgrass prairies. It now Mountains in the United States and Canada (Wishart can be described as a complex patchwork of prairies, pas 2004). It extends from southern Canada to the Rio Grande tures, rangeland, agricultural cropland, and mostly small along the Mexican border in Texas and is transected by rural communities interconnected with transportation rivers and streams mainly flowing eastward from the routes. Rockies (Fig. I). Altitude increases east to west from less Pseudoscorpions, also referred to as "false scorpions," than ISO m (500 ft) above sea level to more than 1,524 m are tiny, brown, flattened arthropods that possess large (5,000 ft). Topography is quite diverse, having alluvial grasping pincers in front, called palps, for seizing and and upland plains, hills, canyons, escarpments, buttes, feeding upon smaller prey (Fig. 2). Unlike a scorpion, badlands, and intrusions of much higher mountains. they have no tail, but like their spider cousins, they pro duce silk to line their chambers for protection during dor Manuscript received for review, March 2012; accepted for publication, mancy or to encase their eggs. Most species are associated July 2012. with woodland microhabitats such as soil surface litter,

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Alberta ." Manitoba ~ ...... ~ . " :. .... -. Ontario : Saskatchewan -••• :...... "" " :. Montana ' ...... ". South Dakota .... Wyoming ••••• Nebraska .....--'-_...... _""-.....,j~ ...... _..J1 3 mm · · Figure 2. Pseudoscorpion (Oactylochelifer silvestris), adult Colorado ·':. male. ·· ·.. New Mexico : pseudoscorpions have not become adapted to grassland .•· conditions, with the exception that species are often found in woody debris and litter of trees along watercourses and near lakes and springs, as well as in the debris of nests of birds and rodents." However, Rapp (1978) in a preliminary study collected Microbisium parvulum Hoff from nine of28 sites in tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies in Nebraska. He postulated that moisture and depth of litter were important factors that limit pseudoscorpions in grasslands or pastures, noting also that overgrazed Figure 1. Simplified map of the Great Plains, showing native pastures in particular are almost devoid of arthro boundaries. pods living in soil and litter, including pseudoscorpions. In conclusion, this earlier literature cited suggests that loose bark of trees, rotted logs, rock crevices, beneath pseudoscorpions are less abundant in the prairies presum stones, and bird and rodent nests. They prefer moist, or ably because of limited microhabitats (litter) and harsh ganic habitats in which other small invertebrates thrive. climatic conditions, primarily due to the drying action In their feeding habits, pseudoscorpions are limited to of the wind and the sun. We report results of our studies smaller prey, such as tiny insect larvae, springtails, mites, to test this idea and to better understand distributions of ants, booklice, small worms, and other soft-bodied micro pseudoscorpion species in the Great Plains. invertebrates. They are limited in their ability to disperse, but many pseudoscorpions hitchhike great distances by MATERIALS AND METHODS grasping onto beetles, flies, and moths (Weygoldt 1969; Muchmore 1990; Beccaloni 2009). Many new records of pseudo scorpions from the Biologists do not know much about pseudoscorpions Great Plains were derived from our study of specimens in the Great Plains. Pseudoscorpions frequently have obtained by request from university and college col been associated with deciduous forest regions (Nelson lections, with corresponding abbreviations, as follows: 1975). Hoff and Bolsterli (1956) reported several spe Chadron State College (CSCC), Colorado State Univer cies from deciduous forests along the major streams that sity (CSUC), University of Kansas Snow Entomological transect the Great Plains but did not expect that there Museum (SEM), University of Minnesota (UMSP), would be any in grasslands, due to inhospitable climatic University of Nebraska State Museum (UNSM), Uni conditions. Hoff (1959) also made reference to the eastern versity of New Mexico Museum of Southwestern Biol two-fifths of Colorado, which lies in the Great Plains, as ogy (UNM), North Dakota State University (NDSU), an area "occupied by a grassland community, but where Oklahoma State University (OSEC), South Dakota State

University (SDSU), and West Texas State University (WTSU). These pseudo scorpions largely came from student collections in field biology courses or as incidental speci mens collected during field research projects involving evaluation of other arthropods in soil and litter in spe cific types of prairie grassland, such as the tallgrass or short grass prairie biomes. These specimens were mainly obtained either by extraction from grass or associated soil using a metal funnel and light apparatus called a Berlese funnel or by collection from pitfall traps inserted in the ground. The remainder of the new records came from pseudo scorpions collected by the senior author at 21 sites while traveling several times across parts of the Great Plains Figure 3. Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), habitat for pseudoscorpions. from 1999 to 2009. Sites selected for investigation were those thought to offer protective microhabitats favoring CHTHONIIDAE: pseudoscorpions and other tiny invertebrates on which Chthonius tetrachelatus (Preyssler) they feed. This included litter from bases of yucca plants and sagebrush (Fig. 3), dense tussocks of bunchgrasses, *Nebraska tree bark and organic debris below trees, leaf litter, and - Dawes Co., Brigg's Pond, Berlese funnel, objects on the ground. Leaf detritus and rotting yuccas twigs and leaves, 17-IX-04, H.R. Lawson. were pulled apart and sifted through a 4.0 mm mesh (UNSM) screen over a white enameled pan. Tree bark was pulled from dead trees or stumps and gently struck against the CHERNETIDAE: inside edge of the pan to dislodge arthropods clinging Microbisium parvulum Hoff to the bark, and the surfaces of trunks or stumps were carefully examined for specimens. Material collected Kansas from bunchgrasses was taken directly from the soil-plant - Geary Co., Konza Prairie Research Natural interface by pulling up grass tussocks and sampling as Area, grass litter sample, tallgrass prairie, 16- sociated organic debris. When a tussock was pried from 11-1996,1. Blair. (PCC) the soil, the roots were pulled apart and these and the rest - Kiowa Co., 13 mi. S. of Greensburg, leaf of the plant were sifted by mesh screen over an enameled litter, ll-I-2004, G. Salsbury. (UNSM) pan. Pseudoscorpions were removed from the fine residue and placed in vials containing 70% ethyl alcohol. Nebraska Taxonomic keys used for identifications were from - Harlan Co., Harlan County Lake, S. of publications by Hoff (1949; 1956a, 1956b), Muchmore Alma, under cottonwood log, 4-X-2004, P. and Alteri (1973), Nelson (1975), Benedict and Malcolm Cooney. (UNSM) (1979), and Buddie (2010). - Lancaster Co., Nine-Mile Prairie, W.ofLin Most of the material collected by the first author in coIn, vacuum, tallgrass prairie, Andropogon this study will be deposited in the University of Nebraska gerardii, I-X-2007, S. Schaeffer. (UNSM) State Museum except material marked "PCC", which the - Saunders Co., UNL ARDC, S. of Mead, senior author has retained. soil plug, Panicum virga tum, 20-IX-2007, S. Schaeffer. (UNSM) RESULTS - Sheridan Co., Metcalf Wildlife Area, litter sample near water, 25-V-2005, H.R. Lawson. Following is a list of 52 records. Each record includes (CSCC) state, county, location, and collector, if known. Fifteen - Sioux Co., Gilbert-Baker Fishing Pond, new state records, as indicated with an asterisk (*), were litter, Berlese funnel, IS-V-2005, 25-V-2005, determined as a result of this study. H.R. Lawson. (CSCC)

North Dakota Parachernes virginicus Hoff - Grand Forks Co., Inkster, extracted from moss, 26-IX-1959, D. Kuske. (NDSU) *Nebraska - Deuel Co., 1-80 Chappell rest area, under South Dakota dead bark on cottonwood, 16-VII-2009, P. - Edmonds Co., Bowdle vicinity, Lat. Cooney. (UNSM) 45.47764, Long. 99.519436, grass, 3-VII-2001, C. Noble. (SDSUC) CHEIRIDIIDAE: Apocheiridium stannardi Hoff Parachernes nubilis (Hoff) *Nebraska Colorado - Deuel Co., Chappell 1-80 rest area, under - Washington Co., Prewitt Reservoir, ex willow bark, 16-VII-2009, P. Cooney. (UNSM) tracted from bunchgrass, shortgrass prairie, 16-V-1999, P. Cooney. (PCC) CHELIFERIDAE:

*Kansas Dactylochelifer silvestris Hoff - Kearny Co., Santa Fe Ruts Trailside Area, E. of Lakin, extracted from rotting yuccas, 24- Colorado VII-2009, P. Cooney. (SEM) - Sedgwick Co., Julesburg, under railroad ties, shortgrass prairie, 25-V-1999, P. Cooney. *Nebraska [det: R. Fagerlund] (PCC) - Dawes Co., Fort Robinson, Icehouse Pond, - Weld Co., IBP-Pawnee Site, 15-XII-1972, J. litter sample, 14-VII-2005, H.R. Lawson. Leetham. (CSUC) (UNSM) *Kansas New Mexico - Norton Co., Route 383 rest area, extracted - Union Co., Kiowa National Grassland, S. of from grass tussocks, 17-IX-2003, P. Cooney. Clayton, County Rd. CC, extracted from dead (UNSM) yuccas, 22-VII-2009, P. Cooney. (UNM) - Wallace Co., Weskan, extracted from grass - Union Co., Kiowa National Grassland, S. weed litter, 17-IX-2003, P. Cooney. (UNSM) of Oliver Rd., extracted from grass clump, 23- VII-2009. P. Cooney. (UNM) *Montana - Union Co., Route 406, N. of Goodin Draw, - Carter Co., Boyes, Route 212 picnic area, sifted from Artemisia litter, 23-VII-2009, P. extracted from grass clump, 7-X-2004, P. Cooney. (UNM) Cooney. (UNSM) - Carter Co., as above, but from Reithro *Texas dontomys nest under Artemisia, P. Cooney. - Randall Co., under log, 20-III-1997, D. Sis (UNSM) som. (WTSU) - Dawson Co., 1-94 rest area, extracted from grass litter, 7-X-2004, P. Cooney. (UNSM) Wyoming - Yellowstone Co., Laurel, under boards in - Goshen Co., 9 mi. SW of Lingle, mixed yard, ??-IX-2005, A. Grandpre. (PCC) grass prairie, pitfall trap, T24N R64W, 104°29'W, 42°01'N, 24-VI-2002, collector *Nebraska unknown. (PCC) - Cherry Co., 1 mi. N. of Niobrara River, Route 81, extracted from dead Yucca glauca, 6-X-2004, P. Cooney. (UNSM)

e 2012 Center for Greot Ploins Studies, University of Nebraska-lincoln New Distributional Records of Great Plains Pseudoscorpions • PaulO. Cooney and James A. Kalisch 199

- Cherry Co., Ponderosa stand near Niobrara - Potter Co., Lake Meredith National Recre River, CDC mosquito trap, 13-IX-2004, H.R. ation Area, Chicken Creek, under log, 28-X- Lawson, Mugo and Schwarting. (CSCC) 1994, DS/WP. - Harlan Co., Harlan Co. Lake, S. of Alma, - Potter Co., N. of Amarillo on US 287 at under cottonwood logs, 4-X-2004, P. Cooney. Canadian River bridge, 27-IX-2000, A. Miller. (UNSM) - Randall Co., Ceta Canyon, FM 1721,2.5 mi. - Frontier Co., Red Willow Reservoir, ex N. of junction FM 285, 7-X-2000, anonymous. tracted from dead Yucca glauca, 5-X-2004, P. Cooney. (UNSM) *Wyoming - Frontier Co., as above, but from Andro - Converse Co., about 2 mi. W. of Fort Fetter pogon scoparius clump, P. Cooney. (UNSM) man, Artemisia litter, 21-VII-2009, P. Cooney. (UNSM) *North Dakota - Converse Co., I mi. N. of Glenrock, Arte - South Unit, Theodore Roosevelt National misia litter, 21-VII-2009, P. Cooney. (UNSM) Park, extracted from sod, 24-VI-1965, G. Thompson. (NDSU) Hysterochelifer proprius Hoff

*Oklahoma *Nebraska - Garfield Co., Carrier, KB trap, 3-VII-1995 - Hooker Co., Mullen, camping area, pho LT. (OSEC) retic onAlaus occulatus, 13-VII-2004, R. Wall. - Ottawa Co., Afton, KB trap, 6-VII-1995, (UNSM) LT. (OSEC) Parachelifer longipalpus Hoff *South Dakota - Charles Mix Co., Snake Creek Lakeside Us Nebraska age Area, extracted from dead Yucca glauca, - Lancaster Co., Lincoln, extracted from 9-X-2004, P. Cooney. (SDSU) bark of rotten logs, 18-IX-2000, F. Baxendale. (UNSM) *Texas (The following Texas material bor rowed from WTSU collection.) DISCUSSION - Donley Co., 6 mi. W. of Clarendon, under boards, 20-IX-1994, M. Curry. Information obtained from identifications of speci - Hutchinson Co., Lake Meredith National mens in this study indicates clearly that some common Recreation Area, no other data. species of pseudoscorpions have the ability to adapt to - Hutchinson Co., Lake Meredith National a wider variety of habitats than previously known. For Recreation Area, Spring Canyon, NE end of example, Hoff's (1961) Colorado records for D. silvestris lake, 20-IX-1994, D. Sissom and B. Johnson. are from collections taken in forested habitats under logs - Kleberg Co., Kingsville (junction of US 77 and rocks, under pieces of bark lying on the ground, de and TX 242), 1O-IX-2000, Capes-Hendrixson. bris and litter at base of a yellow pine, in aspen litter, and - Lipscomb Co., 5 mi. E, 1 mi. N. of Follett, mixed cottonwood and box elder litter at elevations from 4-X-2000, 1. Babitake. 1,676 m (5,500 ft) to 2,804 m (9,200 ft). Hoff's (1%3) sur - Potter Co., Lake Meredith National Rec vey of the Black Hills for pseudoscorpions did not detect reation Area, McBride Canyon, 20-IX-1994, D. silvestris, and records were chiefly from wooded areas, DS/WP. suggesting a closer affinity with the Rocky Mountains - Potter Co., as above, except 29-VII/8-VIII than the Great Plains. However, in this study, D. silvestris and 19-X/26-X-1995, T. Rothblatt. was found at various exposed grassland locations such as - Potter Co., Lake Meredith National Rec in grass clumps, beneath sagebrush litter, in dead yucca, reation Area, Mullinaw Canyon, under log, and at elevations lower than those reported by Hoff. And 9-X-1994, DS/WP. proximity of collection locations to the Black Hills, as indicated in Figure 4, suggests that this species would be

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Dactylochelifer silvestris Microbisium parvulum

1 2 Parachernes virginicus 3 Apocheiridium stannardi Parachemes nubilis 4 Parachelifer longipalpus

Figure 4. Locations of pseudoscorpion species identified in this study. Shaded counties represent new records.

found there as well. In summary, therefore, D. silvestris Specimens from South Dakota and most, if not. all, not only is known to be adapted to mountainous and of the Nebraska and Kansas specimens were collected at grassland conditions, but it also has a greater distribution elevations below 914 m (3,000 ft), and the Oklahoma speci than previously realized. mens were collected from sites below 610 m (2,000 ft). e 2012 Center for Greot Ploins Studies, University of Nebrosko-Lincoln New Distributional Records of Great Plains Pseudoscorpions • PaulO. Cooney and James A. Kalisch 201

Eight pseudoscorpion species were identified and are Benedict, E.M., and D.R. Malcolm. 1979. Pseudoscorpi listed in this study. Other species may also be found in the ons of the family Cheliferidae from Oregon. Jour Great Plains. Based on records, Dactylochelifer silvestris nal ofArachnology 7:187-98. is a species that appears to be common throughout the BuddIe, C.M. 2010. Photographic key to the Pseudoscor Great Plains, with new state records from Kansas, Mon pions of Canada and the adjacent USA. Canadian tana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Journal ofArthropod Identification No. 10. Texas and Wyoming. In addition, Parachernes nubilis Hoff, C.C. 1949. The pseudoscorpions of Illinois. Bulletin was not previously known from Kansas, Nebraska, of the Illinois Natural History Survey 24, article or Texas, and Parachernes virginicus, Apocheiridium 4:428-93. stannardi, Hysterochelifer proprius, and Chthonius tet Hoff, C.C. 1956a. Pseudoscorpions of the family Cherneti rachelatus are newly recorded for Nebraska. Records of dae from New Mexico. American Museum Novitates Microbisium parvulum from Rapp (1978) in Nebraska 1800:1-66. were bolstered by five more from the state. Additional Hoff, C.C. 1956b. Pseudoscorpions of the family Cheliferi surveys are needed to determine more thoroughly the dae from New Mexico. American Museum Novitates distributions of pseudoscorpions adapted to Great Plains 1804:1-36. microenvironments. Hoff, C.C. 1959. The ecology and distribution of the pseu doscorpions of north-central New Mexico. Univer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS sity of New Mexico Publications in Biology Press 8:1-68. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their help Hoff, C.C. 1961. Pseudoscorpions from Colorado. Bul ful comments. This study would have been impossible letin of the American Museum of Natural History without the generous help of others. The authors are 122:409-64. grateful to the following individuals and institutions Hoff, C.C. 1963. Pseudoscorpions from the Black Hills for permitting them to examine pseudoscorpions from of South Dakota. American Museum Novitates their collections: Dr. Randy Lawson, Department of 2134:1-10. Biology, Chadron State College in Nebraska; Dr. Boris Hoff, C.C., and J.E. Bolsterli. 1956. Pseudoscorpions of the Kondratieff, curator, C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Mississippi River drainage basin area. Iransactions Diversity, Colorado State University; Dr. Gerald Fauske, ofthe American Microscopical Society 75:155-79. D~partment of Entomology, North Dakota State Univer Muchmore, W.B. 1990. Pseudoscorpionida. In Soil Biology sity; Dr. Don Arnold, curator, K. C. Emerson Museum, Guide, ed. Daniel L. Dindal, 503-27. John Wiley and Oklahoma State University; Dr. Paul Johnson, South Da Sons, New York. kota State University; Dr. W. David Sissom, West Texas Muchmore, W.B., and C. Alteri. 1973. The Genus Parach State University; Mr. Glenn Salsbury of Greensburg, ernes (Pseudoscorpionida, Chernetidae) in the KS. Dr. Jan Peters of Florida A&M University, Dr. Boris United States, with descriptions of new species. Kondratieff ofColorado State University, and Dr. Richard Transactions ofthe American Entomological SOciety Packauskas of Hays State University in Kansas provided 99:477-506. suggestions to improve this article. Last and by no means Nelson, S., Jr. 1975. A systematic study of Michigan least, the first author thanks his father, Edgar, for accom Pseudoscorpionida (Arachnida) American Midland panying him and encouraging his interest in pseudoscor Naturalist 93:257-301. pions and the world of nature. The first author wishes to Rapp, W.F. 1978. Preliminary studies on pseudoscorpion dedicate this work to Dr. Richard J. Snider of Michigan populations in the soil-grass interface as observed in State University for years of help and encouragement. the Nebraska prairies of the USA. Newsletter ofthe British Arachnological Society 23:5-7. REFERENCES Weygoldt, P. 1969. The Biology ofPseudoscorpions. Har vard University Press, Cambridge, MA. Beccaloni, J. 2009. Arachnids. University of California Wishart, David J., ed. 2004. Encyclopedia of the Great Press, Berkeley. Plains. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.

C 2012 Center for Great Plains Studies. University of Nebraska-Lincoln